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Abstract
Twenty lactating buffaloes divided into 4 groups (five each) were used to evaluate the singular and combined effect of bovine somatotropin and monensin on the productive performance of Egyptian dairy buffaloes. Treatments were 1) control; 2) injection of 500 mg bovine somatotropin (bST)/ head/14days; 3) concentrate feed mixture top dressed with 400 mg of monensin (M)/d/animal; 4) somatotropin (bST) and monensin in combination, during 14 days before expected calving and the first 120 day of lactation period. Diet and management were the same for all animals during the experimental period. Dry matter intake was increased for animals which treated with bST. Digestibility of DM, OM, CF, EE, and NFE were not affected by treatments, however, digestibility of CP was significantly, ((P<0.05) higher in animal treated with bST as compared to other treatments. Milk yield and 4% fat corrected milk yield were significantly (P<0.01) higher in animals treated with bST comparing with animals in the other treatments. Milk fat, total solids (TS), total protein (TP) and ash contents were not significantly changed by treatments, however, milk lactose content was significantly (P<0.01) increased by different treatments. Insulin like growth factor-1(IGF-1) concentration in milk serum was significantly (P<0.01) increased by bST treatments (T2 and T4) than control, but not affected significantly by monensin treatment. Blood plasma total protein and glucose concentrations were significantly (P<0.01) increased by bST treatment, however, plasma albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, urea, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma alanin aminotransferase (ALT) and cholesterol contents were not significantly affected by treatments. Plasma IGF-1 concentration was increased significantly (P<0.01) by bST treatment as compared to than monensin treatment and control group. The results of the present study suggest that bST is efficacious in increasing milk yield without marked changes in milk composition and without adverse effects on lactating buffaloes.